Container



May 11, 1937. w. C."BONTHRON CONTAINER Filed May 29, 1954 INVENTOR W /6TSM A0.

ATTORNEY Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STAES ATENT OFFICE CONTAINERApplication May 29, 1934, Serial No. 728,179

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to cans for containing and dispensingliquids and has particular reference to a spoutless pouring constructionarranged in the can top for the easy dispensing of the liquid contentsand for catching and returning into the can any remaining liquidfollowing a pouring action.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a puncturable cantop for a liquid containing can formed with a liquid returningdepression or channel, the can being easily opened for the dispensing ofits liquid contents and its depression preventing soiling of the can orwasting of its contents during and following such dispensing.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a self-draining,puncturable can top for a liquid holdingrcan having predetermined pointsof rupture for pouring and venting and having depressions or elongatedchannels associated with these points so that the liquid may beexpeditiously dispensed during the proper venting of the can and thenany liquid remaining on the can top after a pouring action will bereturned to the can by way of the depressions and through the pouringand venting openings.

A further object of the invention is the provi sion of a fully sealedcan for holding and dis" pensing liquids, the opening of the can, whenits liquid contents is to be dispensed, being made by puncturingpredetermined points to provide a pouring and a venting opening, such acan having a draining construction formed in a top wall which cooperateswith the pouring and vent openings for catching and returning to the canany liquid passing through the pouring opening and not being fullydischarged.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better under stood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, disclosesa preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective View of a sealed liquid containing canembodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional fragmentary views of the can takenalong the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 and showing respectively the can top beforeopening and the can top after opening.

The present invention contemplates a simple form of sealed can with animperforate metal top for containing and dispensing a liquid, such a canbeing particularly adapted to and being widely used for holding oliveoil. liquid vegetable oils,

etc. The drawing accordingly discloses such a can, this being of theoblong type having rounded corners.

This can as best shown in Fig. 1 comprises an oblong can body H having abottom l2 and a :top l3 the bottom and top being secured to the body ina tight hermetic seal as by the usual double seam Hi; The top I3 isformed with the usual sunken or depressed panel l5 which is preferablyin a plane below the plane of the upper rim edge of the double seam.

A depression or channel It is formed in the top panel l5 and ispreferably elongated to extend between opposite corners of the can top.Adjacent each corner a predetermined point may be indicated by a starout in the metal top or in other suitable manner which is located justinside of the rim of the top and adjacent the corner of the can. Eachpoint I1 is located at an end of the channel IS.

The channel I6 is preferably formed in two similar sections which meetin a common zone IS in the center of the can, this zone forming the highposition of inclined floor parts l9 at the base of the channel wallwhich slope down on each end toward each corner. The lowest portion ofeach inclined floor part IQ of the channel is adjacent the corner of thecan top and it is in this section of the floor that each point [1 islocated.

When the can is to be opened for the dispensing of its contents the cantop is punctured at the points |l so that openings 2| are formed. One ofthe openings 2| may be utilized as a pouring opening and the otheropening for venting during the dispensing of the can contents throughthe pouring opening.

Either of the openings may be used as a pouring opening depending uponwhich corner of the can is held in the low position during thedispensing or pouring action. Such a pouring is effected merely bytilting the can after the openings 2| have been made. By reason of therelative position of the pouring opening to the rest of the can and inaddition the provision of the full venting of the can, the liquid flowsfreely discharging as a confined stream which usually clears theadjacent double seam rim of the can top. The disclosed close proximityof the opening 2| to the corner of the can gives an optimum dischargefor the oblong shape of can. Other can shapes might require otherpositions to produce the best results. The contents of the container areusually not dispensed all at one time and accordingly after each pouringthe can is again righted or brought into its upright position. Any ofthe liquid which then remains on the top of the can is caused to draininto one or the other of the channel sections and flows down theinclined floor [9, such liquid passing back into the can through theopening 2| at the lower end of its channel section. In this way thedrainage which might otherwise flow down the sides of the can or overthe top is caught and returned to the can, avoiding any waste ofcontents and soiling'of the can parts.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A can for liquids having a top adapted to be punctured at twodiametrically opposite predetermined points, each predetermined pointbeing located adjacent the edge of the can to provide a pouring openingon one side and a vent opening on the other, said top having anelongated channel extending diagonally across the can top, the floor ofwhich is inclined downwardly from a common high position in the centerof the can where the floor is substantially flush with the can top wallto a low position at diagonally opposite corners where it surrounds itsassociated predetermined point of opening, said channel being adapted todirect any liquid contents, remaining on the can top after a pouringaction, back into the opening associated with the end of such channel.

2. A can for liquids having an oblong top and rounded corners adapted tobe punctured at two diagonally opposite predetermined points in theopposite corners of the can top, said points when punctured providingpouring and vent openings, and an elongated channel formed in said topand extending diagonally across the same between opposite corners, theends of said channel encircling said pouring and vent openings, saidchannel having oppositely inclined floor portions extending from a highlevel substantially flush with the center of the can top toward saiddiagonally opposite corners, said openings in the can top directing anyliquid contents remaining on the can top after pouring, back into thecan through said pouring and vent openings.

WILLIAM C. BONTHRON.

